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Symptoms and Treatment for Sinusitis

Symptoms and Treatment for Sinusitis

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Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the sinuses. The sinuses are four pairs of cavities in the head. These cavities are connected by narrow channels. A thin mucus drains from the sinuses into the nasal channels. The mucus keeps the nasal passages clean and free of bacteria. The sinuses are normally filled with air but can become blocked and filled with fluid. As a result, bacteria can grow and cause an infection.

stuffy nose

What Are The Symptoms Of Sinusitis?

Common symptoms of sinusitis include:

  • Tiredness
  • Fever
  • Postnasal drip 
  • Halitosis 
  • Cough
  • Nasal discharge or stuffy nose
  • Facial pressure, headache, and or pain in your teeth or ears

What Causes Sinusitis?

The sinuses can become inflamed and blocked by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. A few specific causes include:

  • The common cold
  • Polyps
  • Nasal and seasonal allergies
  • A weak immune system from illness or medications
  • A deviated septum. The septum is the line of cartilage that divides your nose. A deviated septum means that it isn’t straight, so it is closer to the nasal passage on one side of your nose, causing a blockage.

Other causes may include:

  • For infants and young children, spending time in daycares, using pacifiers, or drinking bottles while lying down could increase the chances of getting sinusitis. 
  • For adults, smoking increases the risks for sinus infections. You should stop if you smoke. Smoking is harmful to you and the people around you.

How to Diagnose Sinusitis?

You may be asked about your symptoms by your doctor. A physical exam will involve feeling for tender spots on your nose and face and examining your nose. Methods for diagnosing chronic sinusitis include:

  • Imaging tests – this can show details of your sinuses and nasal area. These might pinpoint a deep inflammation or physical blockage that’s difficult to detect using an endoscope.
  • Looking into your sinuses – a thin, flexible tube with a fiber-optic light inserted through your nose allows your doctor to see the inside of your sinuses. This can help your doctor see a deviated nasal septum, polyps, or tumors.
  • An allergy test – a skin test is safe and quick and can help detect what allergen is responsible for your nasal flare-ups.

Treatment and Medication for Sinusitis

Treatment and Medication for Sinusitis

Sinusitis is treated in several ways, each depending on how severe the case of your condition is. 

 A simple sinusitis infection is treated with:

If symptoms of sinusitis don’t improve after 10 days, your doctor may prescribe:

  • Antibiotics
  • Oral or topical decongestants
  • Intranasal steroid sprays 

Long-term sinusitis may be treated by focusing on the underlying condition. This is usually treated with:

  • Intranasal steroid sprays
  • Topical antihistamine sprays or oral pills
  • Leukotriene antagonists 

Medications can be used for sinusitis:

Otitis Media

Otitis Media

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Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum in which the tiny vibrating bones are located. This infection is more common in children than in adults.

Ear infections often clear up on their own, so treatment begins with pain management and monitoring. Sometimes, antibiotics are needed to clear the infection.

Otitis Media Symptoms

Ear pain

The following are the most common symptoms of otitis media. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: 

  • Ear pain
  • Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
  • Fluid draining from the ear
  • Loss of balance
  • Tugging or pulling at one or both ears
  • Unusual irritability
  • Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
  • Fever, especially in infants and younger children 
  • Hearing difficulties

Causes and Risk Factors of Otitis Media

Infections of the middle ear are usually caused by a malfunction of the Eustachian tube, a canal that connects the middle ear with the throat. By equalizing the pressure between the outer and middle ear, the Eustachian tube helps prevent hearing loss. When this tube does not function properly, it prevents normal drainage of fluids from the middle ear, leading to a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum. When this fluid cannot drain, bacteria and viruses can grow in the ear, causing acute otitis media. The following are some of the reasons that the Eustachian tube may not work properly:

  • A cold or allergy can lead to swelling and congestion of the lining of the nose, throat, and Eustachian tube
  • A malformation of the Eustachian tube

Several factors may increase your child’s risk of developing an ear infection, although any child can develop it:

  • Family history of ear infections
  • Being around someone who smokes
  • A weak immune system
  • Having a cold

Otitis Media Diagnosis

The health care provider of your child will inspect the outer ear and eardrum using an otoscope. This diagnosis is usually done along with a complete medical history and physical examination. A pneumatic otoscope blows a puff of air into the ear to test eardrum movement.

Another test is tympanometry which can be performed in most health care providers’ offices to help determine how the middle ear is functioning. It does not tell if the child is hearing or not, but helps to detect any changes in pressure in the middle ear. This is a difficult test to perform in younger children because the child needs to remain still and not cry, talk, or move. A hearing test may be performed for children who have frequent ear infections.

Otitis Media Treatment 

In some cases, ear infections resolve without antibiotic treatment. Depending on your child’s age and the severity of symptoms, you should consider what’s best for him or her.

In addition, your doctor will advise you on treatments to lessen pain from an ear infection. These may include the following:

Pain medication

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB)

Anesthetic drops

These may be used to relieve pain if the eardrum doesn’t have a hole or tear in it.

Prescribe To Treat Infections Caused by Bacteria

Prescribe To Treat Infections Caused by Bacteria

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Ceftin is an oral antibiotic drug. It is prescribe to treat infections caused by bacteria.  It works by killing the bacteria in your body. However, it does not work for viral infections such as colds and flu. It can only treat bacterial infections.

The generic name of Ceftin is Cefuroxime. You can buy this drug only with your doctor’s prescription.

What condition does Ceftin treats?

Ceftin can treat bacterial infections such as:

How does Ceftin works?

Ceftin can stop the growth of bacteria. It prevents the bacteria from forming their cell wall. Without the cell wall, the bacteria will die. The bacteria cell wall protects them from their external environment.

What is the dosage of Ceftin?

  • Adults and children 12 years and older
  • The recommended dose ranges from 250 mg to 500 mg two times a day. You need to take it for 7-10 days. For gonorrhea, a single dose of 1000 mg may use.
  • Children less than 12 years old
  • The recommended dose is 10 mg to 15 mg per kg body weight. Take the medication by mouth two times a day for 7-10 days. Children younger than 12 years of age are not allowed to use the tablet form.
  • To treat Lyme, take the medication every 12 hours for 20 days.

How to take Ceftin?

  • Read and follow the directions on the product label.
  • Take the medicine with food to increase absorption.
  • You need to swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew or crush the tablet.
  • Take the medicine at around the same time every day.
  • For liquid medication, shake the bottle before each use. Use a syringe or a measuring cup to get the exact measurement.
  • You may feel better for the first few days. Do not stop taking the medication. Continue taking the medication until you finish the prescription.
  • Do not take more than the recommended dose.
  • Consult your doctor if you want to switch from tablet to liquid form.

What are the precautions in taking Ceftin?

Before taking Ceftin:

  • Tell your doctor if you have any allergies.
  • Tell your doctor if you have:
    • Kidney disease
    • Intestinal disease
    • Liver disease
  • Tell your doctor if you’re taking any medications.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
  • Do not use this medication in children younger than 3 months old.

Costs of Generic Cefuroxime vs Ceftin

The generic brand Cefuroxime is cheaper than the brand name Ceftin. Cefuroxime 250 mg costs $2.00 per unit price or $40.00 for 20 tabs. While the branded Ceftin 250 mg costs $17.29 per unit price or $347.74 for 20 tabs.

LYME DISEASE

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Lyme disease is an infectious condition. It caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is transmitted to humans by a bite of an infected tick. It becomes infected when a tick feeds on the blood of infected deer.

The symptoms of this disease occur from 3 to 30 days. If the condition left untreated. The infection can spread to any of the joints in your body. It can affect your heart and the nervous system. The disease known as the common tick-borne illness. In places such as Europe and Upper Midwest regions of the US.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE

The early signs and symptoms of this condition include:

  • Fever & Chills
  • Fatigue
  • A headache
  • Muscle and Joint Pain
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Erythema Migran rash

There are later signs and symptoms. It occurs in days or month after the tick bite. It includes the following:

  • A severe Headache
  • Neck stiffness
  • Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling
  • Facial Palsy
  • Heart Palpitation
  • Intermittent pain in tendons
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Nerve Pain
  • Brain Disorder
  • Numbness in arms, legs, and feet
  • Short breathing
  • Having a series of dizziness

RISK FACTORS OF LYME DISEASE

The following are at risk of having Lyme disease such as:

  • People living in a place where lots of ticks.
  • Spending time in wooded or grassy areas.
  • A person loves outdoor activities.
  • Having an exposed skin.
  • Not removing ticks properly.
  • A person who loves camping.

DIAGNOSING LYME DISEASE

The diagnosis of this disease based on:

  • Signs and symptoms
  • A possible exposure to infected ticks

After examining your signs and exposure to infected ticks. Your doctor will require you to have a lab test. It is to identify and can help confirm the diagnosis.

The Lab tests include:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Test (ELISA) – this test is used to detect antibodies to B. burgdorferi. Although it provides a false result. This isn’t used as the first basis for diagnosis.
  • Western Blot Test – this test is used to confirm the diagnosis. If ELISA gives false result in the diagnosis.

LYME DISEASE PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The following are the safety measure to prevent in getting a tick bite.

  • Wear long pants and long sleeve when you’re outdoors.
  • Stay away from wooded and grassy areas.
  • Avoid coming into places where ticks lived.
  • Avoid contact with ticks.
  • Clean your yard by clearing wooded areas. Putting woodpiles in areas lots of suns.
  • Use insect repellent with 10% DEET.
  • Check yourself for ticks before entering your home.
  • Check your children and your pets for ticks.
  • Remove attached ticks right away with tweezers.

TREATING LYME DISEASE

The disease is best treated in the early stages. Antibiotics medicine used in treating infections. Other Medications used to treat Lyme disease are:

There are natural treatments or home remedy for Lyme disease such as:

  • Antimicrobial Herbs
  • Co-infection Prevention
  • Detoxification Preparation
  • Take supplements to improve cellular function
  • Get enough rest
  • Reduce parasite exposure

ANAPLASMOSIS

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Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by a bacterium called “Anaplasma phagocytophilum”. This is found in species of a vector or the “Black-legged Tick”. This can transmit to people when bitten by an infected tick.

The black-legged tick is a parasite which is related to spiders. They feed by simply attaching their mouth to some parts of the skin. If this tick has already fed on blood it spreads the bacteria in the bloodstream. The bacteria itself will multiply inside a person’s body. And it began to create a series of symptoms.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

Many kinds of species can cause Anaplasmosis. One of the main causes is the bite of an infected tick. Here are the lists of symptoms seen after 1-2 weeks being bitten by a tick:

  • Sudden fever
  • A headache
  • Experiencing muscle pain
  • Malaise
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Rashes
  • Chill and having cough
  • Having a confusion

Usually, the bite of the tick is painless. Some person does not remember being bitten by this tick. However, this condition can lead to serious illness. It can even be fatal if not treated. Patients who already have an action regarding this condition may recover faster than those who have a prolonged stay in the hospital.  

RISK FACTORS

The following are the list of a risk factor for tick bites:

  • A person loves to hike in the woods.
  • A person likes to go adventure in the forest.
  • Skin exposed to the environment.
  • Not using insect repellent.
  • Using clothes that do not protect the arms, legs and other body parts.
  • Having pets without applying ticks repellents.
  • Conducting a camp.
  • Often perform outdoor activities.

COMPLICATIONS

Having this kind of disease is a big problem. Complications may arise if this disease is left untreated.

  • Having a chronic joint inflammation (or Lyme arthritis occurs in the knee)
  • Experiencing neurological symptoms (facial palsy and neuropathy)
  • Cognitive defects or impaired memory
  • Irregular heart rhythm

PREVENTION

Practicing safety precautions can decrease the chances of this disease.

  • Cover up yourself when you’re in the wood and grassy areas.
  • Using insect repellent all the time when you’re outside your home.
  • Spraying your home with insecticide.
  • Clean the areas where tick can possible live or stay.
  • Don’t forget to check yourself, your child and pets for a tick.
  • Removing of ticks as soon as possible when it’s attached to you with tweezers.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing this disease has different ways. The physician finds it challenging to diagnose and treat because the disease can be hard to distinguish. The doctor will assess the patient’ history of tick bites and areas last traveled. You will also undergo a blood test using the useful tools such as:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  • Western blot test

TREATMENT

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics in treating your condition like: